NewRiver REIT PLC Impact of Coronavirus on community pub portfolio (1264H)
23 Marzo 2020 - 1:00AM
UK Regulatory
TIDMNRR
RNS Number : 1264H
NewRiver REIT PLC
23 March 2020
NewRiver REIT plc
("NewRiver" or the "Company")
Impact of Coronavirus (COVID-19) on community pub portfolio
Further to its announcement of 19 March 2020, NewRiver is today
providing a further update on the impact of the Coronavirus
(COVID-19) pandemic on its business. This follows the UK
Government's announcement on 20 March of the temporary closure of
entertainment and hospitality premises.
NewRiver's community pub business, Hawthorn Leisure, has closed
all its sites with immediate effect. The Company had anticipated
pub closures at some stage soon and was therefore well prepared for
this outcome.
The Company improved its financial position further at the end
of last week to GBP75m of unrestricted cash balances and GBP45m of
committed undrawn credit facilities, providing GBP120m of available
liquidity. The Company has already undertaken extensive scenario
testing, factoring in the loss of income from its pub portfolio,
which confirms that NewRiver has significant covenant headroom and
a capital structure that is well placed to absorb a prolonged
period of uncertainty.
One such scenario in our testing is that the Company does not
receive any pub income for the next six months, and a reduced
income beyond this, whilst the pub business rebuilds. It also
assumes that there is a significant reduction in the Company's
retail portfolio income for the next 12 months. In this scenario,
the Company's analysis shows that it will have in excess of GBP50
million of cash and GBP45 million of undrawn credit facilities
after 12 months. Based on this analysis, the Company is confident
that it will remain compliant with its financial covenants for the
next 12 months. The Company has no bank or refinancing events until
August 2023.
The Company was pleased to note the recent announcements by the
UK Government aimed at providing financial assistance to businesses
impacted by COVID-19:
-- The UK Government's business rates holiday will apply to the
entire pub portfolio, which will save the Company and its tenants
an estimated GBP5 million in cash flow over the next 12 months.
-- We are supporting our pub partners and tenants who employ
staff to enable them to apply for the Coronavirus Job Retention
Scheme, whereby 80% of the wage costs of employees who are unable
to fulfil their role due to COVID-19 will be borne by the UK
Government.
-- To protect against the possibility that market conditions
remain challenging for the next 18 months or more the Company is
working with its advisors to apply for the Covid Corporate
Financing Facility programme using its Investment Grade credit
rating.
We are also currently working with our insurance brokers and
insurers to make a claim for the business disruption caused by
COVID-19 and for loss of rent.
NewRiver remains a financially sound business with a liquidity
position and capital structure that is well placed to absorb a
prolonged period of uncertainty. It is worth noting that NewRiver's
retail portfolio represented 70% of the Company's net rental income
as at 30 September 2019. This portfolio is focused on occupiers in
the food & grocery, health & beauty, discounter and
essential services sub-sectors, and almost two-thirds of our retail
assets are anchored by a major food and grocery brand. Given the
fast-changing situation, the Company will provide the market with
further updates in due course.
For further information
NewRiver REIT plc +44 (0)20 3328 5800
Allan Lockhart (Chief Executive)
Mark Davies (Chief Financial Officer)
Tom Loughran (Head of Investor
Relations)
+44 (0)20 7251
Finsbury 3801
Gordon Simpson
James Thompson
This announcement contains inside information as defined in
Article 7 of the EU Market Abuse Regulation No 596/2014 and has
been announced in accordance with the Company's obligations under
Article 17 of that Regulation. This announcement has been
authorised for release by the Board of Directors.
About NewRiver
NewRiver REIT plc ('NewRiver') is a leading Real Estate
Investment Trust specialising in buying, managing, developing and
recycling convenience-led, community-focused retail and leisure
assets throughout the UK.
Our GBP1.3 billion portfolio covers 9 million sq ft and
comprises 33 community shopping centres, 25 conveniently located
retail parks and over 700 community pubs. Having hand-picked our
assets since NewRiver was founded in 2009, we have deliberately
focused on the fastest growing and most sustainable sub-sectors of
the UK retail market, with grocery, convenience stores, value
clothing, health & beauty and discounters forming the core of
our retail portfolio. This focus, combined with our affordable
rents and desirable locations, delivers sustainable and growing
returns for our shareholders over the longer term, while our active
approach to asset management and in-built 2.3 million sq ft
development pipeline provide further opportunities to extract value
from our portfolio.
NewRiver has a Premium Listing on the Main Market of the London
Stock Exchange (ticker: NRR). Visit www.nrr.co.uk for further
information.
LEI Number: 2138004GX1VAUMH66L31
This information is provided by RNS, the news service of the
London Stock Exchange. RNS is approved by the Financial Conduct
Authority to act as a Primary Information Provider in the United
Kingdom. Terms and conditions relating to the use and distribution
of this information may apply. For further information, please
contact rns@lseg.com or visit www.rns.com.
END
UPDXLLLLBXLBBBD
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 23, 2020 03:00 ET (07:00 GMT)
Newriver Reit (LSE:NRR)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Mar 2024 a Abr 2024
Newriver Reit (LSE:NRR)
Gráfica de Acción Histórica
De Abr 2023 a Abr 2024